Peter O'Toole on David Letterman talking about his drinking days

[Ichingcarpenter]

and what he wants on his tombstone.

The Irish wit and humour

He will be missed.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

1. Good catch. ;-)

[BrotherIvan]

2. Too much awesome

I can just imagine he and Peter Finch and Richard Harris, what a sight that would have been. I love how open he is about his escapades throughout his life. And what an amazing actor. Damn, they don't make 'em like that any more.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

3. Wonderful! Thanks.

[Nitram]

4. Brilliant!

Love the epitaph.

[calimary]

5. Welcome to DU, Nitram!

Glad you're here! It just irks me that this brilliant artist never won an Oscar. WTF??????? Seriously? Yes they finally threw him a bone and gave him an honorary Oscar but, shit, it's not the same thing. Astoundingly enough, Richard Burton never won an Oscar either. Sheesh. Sometimes there's just no justice...

[eggplant]

6. I just love it when people can't get through their own stories without laughing themselves.

I hope he gets that epitaph on his grave!

[Va Lefty]

7. Never saw that! Thanks for sharing it!

[frazzled]

8. I enjoyed this a lot (but)

I began to ask myself, what is it we find so adorable about drinkers and drunkenness? I include myself among those who can fall for a charming rapscallion with a quick wit—as long as that drunken wit, of course, does not live in our houses, befouling the nest and causing anxiety to all. Then it's a nightmare.

So sad that Peter Finch, his drinking buddy in this story, died at age 61 (and Richard Burton, apparently another friend, at 59) — both of them younger than I am. Indeed, I looked it up, and Finch was born the same year as my father (1916), who is still alive and well, and Burton the same year as my mother (1925), also thankfully alive. Really just as sad that Finch almost died in the 1970s, and I suppose he's lucky to have lived to 81. Though 81 is not particularly an advanced age these days.

I guess I was just comparing the endearing comments with those surprisingly angry and hostile comments that have been around a lot the last few weeks here excoriating cigarette smokers (and even e-cigarette smokers!). And it can't be because smokers supposedly harm those around them: drinkers harm them even more directly, ruining people's lives and sometimes killing them on the spot.

So while I'm a big fan of Peter O'Toole's and I loved his story (especially his tombstone), and while I am not judging him, I do wonder why we love a drunk.

[Warren DeMontague]

17. Sorry, but ex-drunks have the better stories.

And by "better" I don't mean "happy, unicorns and sunshine farting rainbows". I mean ugly, unpleasant... but occasionaly hysterical. At the very least, shit happens.

Cigarette smoking simply doesn't lend itself to that sort of narrative excitement.

"I bought a pack of smokes, it cost five bucks, I complained about it being too expensive, and how unfair it is that smokers are persecuted with taxes. I had to go out to the curb to smoke it, so I complained about that. Then, my coat smelled like shit, so no one wanted to share a cab with me.. So I complained about that. More persecution!

Then, an hour later I needed to do it all again".

[frazzled]

18. Sorry, but ...

Have you ever had to sit next to a drunken friend for an entire evening? BOOOORRRRRING.

I first understood the boringness of drunkenness when I was pregnant with my first child. We'd gone to an avant-garde film that turned out to be a performance of a sort: people were offered military clothing and accoutrements to wear upon buying their tickets, and if you didn't choose anything, you'd have to sit in the "civilian" section. Furthermore, hard liquor would be available for consumption cost-free (lots of it), while a beer entailed an extra charge. People were drinking scotch and bourbon by the bucketful as the film/performance progressed, and I, being pregnant and not wanting to drink, was the only sober person in the audience. This is quite a revelatory position in which to find oneself, and one doesn't forget it quickly. Embarrassment for your fellow human beings is the most polite way you can put it. It's eye-opening. They may THINK they're funny and interesting, but believe me, it's a delusion.

Smokers on the other hand have been shown to be the best conversationalists. But that was then, before people got all ooooo-ooooo: the scenario you chose to put forth is merely the result of new restrictions and your own prejudices. You fail to mention the hurt and sometimes total devastation drunks do to family and friends; and, when they get in a car, to complete strangers, whom they maim and kill. If that's the "shit" you think is "interesting," go for it. I could write that story for you, of the ruined lives, resentful children, spouses who've had to give up and leave ...

I'm someone who enjoys a good drink once in a while (scotch, mostly), and I drink wine regularly. But I also remember when this was cool (and by the way, he didn't die from smoking):

[Warren DeMontague]

19. Believe me, I'm familiar with both.

I watched a parent die of lung cancer. Also had my best friend killed by a drunk driver.

I don't romanticize (much less do, anymore, actually) either- still, I find the whole "put upon, oppressed smoker" routine extremely tiresome. YMMV, of course.

[RBInMaine]

9. Hilarious ! Laughed my ass off ! This noted Brit actor will be very missed.

[Lucky Luciano]

10. Excellent! I recall many years back a similar interview with Richard Harris.

I should see if I can dig that up. It was similarly hilarious.

[closeupready]

11. "Lawrence of Arabia" is probably one of the best films

I've ever seen, in large part because of his amazing performance. RIP.

[ThoughtCriminal]

12. My Favorite Year

Was my favorite Peter O'Toole movie.

[secondvariety]

13. Mine too.

Makes me laugh every time I watch it.

[NBachers]

14. What a life this guy had.

[Indi Guy]

15. That was delightful.

Thanks for posting.

[Warren DeMontague]

16. He will be missed.

Definitely one of a kind.

[KatyaR]

20. This was wonderful.

My first thought when I heard he had passed was that somewhere he and Harris are sitting down having a pint together.

I'm not religious, but I'd like to think this could happen....